[54] PACKAGE FOR PACKAGING LARGE MEAT PRODUCTS IN A DESIRED GASEOUS ATMOSPHERE
[75] Inventor: Michael P. Gorlich, Hilton Head Island, S.C.
[73] Assignee: World Class Packaging Systems, Inc., Hilton Head Island, S.C.
[21] Appl. No.: 278,416
[22] Filed: Jul. 21,1994
Related U.S. Application Data
[62] Division of Ser. No. 98,530, Jul. 28, 1993, Pat. No. 5,419, 096.
[51] Int. CI.6 B65D 81/24; B65D 51/16
[52] U.S. CI 206/213.1; 220/367.1;
220/769; 220/772; 426/118
[58] Field of Search 206/213.1; 220/359,
220/366, 367, 768, 769, 771, 772, 371-372, 912, 913; 426/118, 129, 395, 396, 113
[56] References Cited
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3,278,074 10/1966 Yamazaki 220/771 X
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4,880,951 11/1989 Levinson 220/771 X
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5,065,889 11/1991 Conti 220/360 X
5,348,752 9/1994 Gorlich 426/129
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FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
1810958 6/1970 Germany.
2335021 1/1975 Germany .
WO91/03407 3/1991 WIPO .
9301104 1/1993 WIPO 220/359
Primary Examiner—Bryon P. Gehman
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Arnold, White & Durkee
[57] ABSTRACT
A package, packaging method, and packaging apparatus for facilitating the packaging of large meat products and exchanging the ambient atmosphere to establish a desired gaseous atmosphere that extends the shelf life of the product. The package includes a pair of preformed relatively rigid plastic domed or cupped members which abut along a sealing surface. The upper and lower package portions include flanges which are adapted to facilitate not only the formation of the package but its subsequent opening. A reciprocatable filling tube maintains the separation between the upper and lower package portions to permit gas exchange and then may be reciprocated downwardly to allow the upper package portion to abut atop the lower package portion for sealing connection.
8 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
